Mt. Pleasant ball fields, parks slated for repairs

Lisa Yanick Litwiller - Morning Sun file photo - Historic flooding in June of 2017 covered Pickens Field and other baseball and softball diamonds with water reaching the tops of the back fences in some cases.

Morning Sun file photo - Ball fields at Pickens Field and in Island Park were damaged during historic flooding in June of 2017.

Horizon Park in Mt. Pleasant will be getting some improvements this summer and other repairs will be done at Island Park and Pickens Fields infields.

Both issues were approved at Monday’s Mt. Pleasant City Commission meeting.

City Manager Nancy Ridley said repair and reconditioning work is planned at the infields at Island Park and Pickens Field after they were damaged in the flood in June 2017.

Commissioners approved award a contract to the lowest bidder, Turf Services of Spring Lake, for $69,705. A state grant received for public damage reimbursement will be used to fund the project.

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Island Park and Pickens’ fields combine for five fields that are used for girls’ fast pitch softball, Little League baseball and city recreation programs. All five fields were damaged and contaminated with river residue during the flood, according to the city.

Work on the project will include removal, replacement and repair of material; resetting of bases, rubbers and boxes; and laser grading to provide effective surface drainage of fields.

The project is expected to begin in mid-April and be completed in mid-May, weather permitting.

In other action, commissioners approved improvements at Horizon Park after receiving a $50,000 donation from MHT Housing, which operates nearby Chase Run Apartments on Isabella Road.

As part of its improvements to the apartment complex last year, MHT Housing, of Bingham Farms, committed to donating funds for improvements at the park.

City Manager Nancy Ridley said the project would increase access to the park by having more walkways, as well more picnic tables, grills, benches and trees. The second phase involves upgrading the restroom facility to reduce maintenance costs by adding LED lights and new light fixtures that would be less susceptible to vandalism.

The third part is to fix up the tennis courts.

Now that the commission has approved it, the city will bid out the project. Work is expected to be done this summer.

“I just wanted to thank the folks that own the apartment complex out there for being a partner with us,” Commissioner Tony Kulick said “I know it benefits them, but it benefits the entire community to have improvements made to the park.”

Mayor Allison Quast-Lents agreed.

“It’s really wonderful when the city can partner with different entities and organizations in the community to benefit the community as a whole,” she said.